Al-Azizia reference: Nawaz Sharif re-files bail plea in IHC

NAB chairman and Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent were made parties in the plea.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday has approved the bail plea of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds for hearing. According to details, division bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani will conduct hearing on the petition on Tuesday (May 21). Moreover, the court will also hear National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal against Nawaz’s acquittal in Flagship Reference. It is to be mentioned here that that forme PM had moved IHC seeking suspension of his sentence in Al-Azizia reference. NAB chairman and Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent were made parties in the plea. Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned Kot Lakhpat Jail in a rally of his party workers and leaders after expiry of six-week bail in a corruption case. Flexes and banners were erected across the city to show solidarity with the PML-N supremo and the PML-N leadership had directed the party workers to gather at the Shanghai Flyover near Ferozpur Road for the solidarity rally.

Kot Lakhpat jail officials had also reached Jati Umra to arrest Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was released from jail on March 27 on medical grounds after the apex court suspended his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference and granted him bail for six weeks. The PML-N supreme leader was sentenced to seven years in prison and was fined Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia corruption reference by an accountability court on December 24, 2018. However, he was acquitted in another reference related to Flagship Investments. Besides, he was also disqualified from holding any public office for the period of 10 years. The disqualification will go into effect following his release from jail after serving the seven-year sentence.